Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Do you ever wonder if successful people are always happy?
The truth is, many people struggle with “imposter syndrome”. It describes a pervasive feeling that you aren’t good enough, or deserving enough, of what you have. Imposter syndrome is characterized by self-doubt and a sense of inadequacy.
If you deal with these thoughts, you’re not the only one—one journal estimated that up to 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome sometime during their lives.People with imposter syndrome often feel like they don’t deserve their success. But you don’t even need to be hugely successful to deal with these doubts; they can happen to anyone. Many people worry that they aren’t good enough, or that they’re a fraud. Rather than acknowledging their hard work and talent, they might think that they just got lucky.
How can you overcome this negativity and learn to appreciate your hard work? We’ve put together a few suggestions:
Dealing with Difficult Ideas
Sometimes, our doubts and insecurities get in the way of our progress. We believe that we aren’t good enough to succeed at something, so we don’t even try it in the first place. But you deserve better than to let imposter syndrome ever hold you back.
Imposter syndrome is often linked to perfectionism, which describes a need to be perfect and an intolerance of shortcomings. When you set high expectations for yourself, it increases the risk that you may start feeling like an imposter who’s unable to achieve them.
It can be hard to accept the love and praise that other people offer us. We might be left feeling as though we’re an imposter. Many people struggle with the thought that they don’t deserve the accomplishments they’ve achieved or the love they receive.
It’s empowering to realize how irrational imposter syndrome can be. Even if it seems like one day, everyone will realize that you’re a “fake”, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Acknowledging & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
The first step in moving forward starts with recognizing where you are. Here are a few ways you can do that:
Confide in friends & family
When you reach out to loved ones, you might be surprised by how many of them share the same feelings. It can be validating to connect with others over similar concerns—it helps you realize that they’re normal feelings, but unrealistic! Helping to build up another person’s confidence might make you feel better about yourself.
Recognizing your accomplishments
When you’re aware of imposter syndrome, you can talk back to the negative thoughts in your head telling you that you aren’t deserving of your success. It helps to recognize that those negative ideas aren’t part of your identity—instead, they’re just something that you’re currently experiencing.
You can do this by reminding yourself about the good person that you are and about everything you’ve accomplished. This helps to combat feelings that you’re inadequate.
Whenever you’re tempted to make a self-deprecating remark, challenge yourself. Instead, reaffirm that you are good enough, you do know what you’re talking about, and you are valid.
Self-care
Is there a better way to affirm yourself that you are worthy than by treating yourself as such? When you’re met with feelings of self-doubt, negativity, and fear of being lesser than, combat them by rewarding yourself with the love you deserve. Set aside some time to pamper yourself by:
Taking a long, hot bath
Journaling about how you feel about your job, personal relationships, and progress
Writing down accomplishments that you’re proud of
At Bare Body sugaring in Winnipeg, we believe that everyone deserves to feel worthy of their successes. We’re committed to offering services that are comfortable, natural, and help you feel positive about your body.
